"Boom!!"
A deafening explosion echoed across the edge of the forest, shaking the very air around it.
Alex stood frozen, his eyes nearly popping out of his head as he watched the Blaze Lion being flung through the air by the blast. A crater had been torn into the ground just outside his territory, a testament to the sheer power of the Explosive Spores. He hadn't expected them to be so devastating, sending the Blaze Lion flying in an instant.
Though the beast wasn't dead, it was severely wounded, blood gushing from its body. For the first time, Alex felt a flicker of hope.
"Go! Keep blasting them!"
At his command, the Thornvine Flowers launched another wave of spores, scattering them outside the territory. Another series of explosions followed, sending the three Blaze Lions leaping and dodging in panic.
Seizing the opportunity, the other plants surged forward, targeting the injured Blaze Lion. The red spores floating in the air settled onto its wounds, drinking its blood and taking root.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Another round of explosions erupted, and the Blaze Lion let out a blood-curdling scream as its internal organs were shredded. It collapsed in a pool of blood, struggling to rise, only to be ensnared by countless vines that wrapped around its body, pinning it in place.
The other two Blaze Lions roared in fury, preparing to unleash their flames in a desperate attempt to save their companion. But Alex was ready.
With a thought, another Thornvine Flower and several Thornvines lashed out, sweeping the lions off their feet.
"Now's the time!"
Yesterday's battle had taught Alex how to coordinate his troops more effectively. As the lions fell, he rallied all his forces to focus on the heavily wounded Blaze Lion. Two second-tier Thornvine Flowers closed in from either side, their toxic vines piercing through its wounds and into its organs, while others wrapped around its mouth, preventing it from breathing fire.
The vines tightened, and the Blaze Lion's strength waned as it bled out. Finally, its heart was torn apart by the spores, and it died on the spot.
[Blaze Lion (Tier 3) slain. 14 Mana gained.]
Success! Alex's heart swelled with triumph. With two second-tier units and a host of healing plants, taking down a Tier 3 monster was far easier than it had been yesterday. At lower tiers, the gap in attributes between units wasn't insurmountable, and with the right strategy, it was possible to defeat stronger foes. Plus, he still had the safety period on his side—without it, he would've stood no chance against the Blaze Lions.
The remaining two lions, seeing their companion fall, finally felt fear. They snarled at Alex from behind the fence before turning and disappearing into the forest.
Alex let out a sigh of relief. Honestly, if the two lions had kept up their assault, he wasn't sure he could've handled it. Fortunately, the monsters in this world had their own intelligence and could feel fear, which had worked in his favor this time. It was a stroke of luck, netting him 14 Mana—one less than yesterday, likely due to the monster's strength.
Once he was sure the Blaze Lions were gone, Alex wasted no time. He returned to the Tree of Life, spending 5 Mana to recruit an Explosive Mushroom and another 5 to trigger a Mutation.
After a day of experimentation, Alex had a good grasp of how Mutation worked. Essentially, it cost the same amount of Mana as recruiting a unit, effectively doubling the expense. In return, the mutated unit gained an additional skill, making it significantly stronger. With this ability, he could create powerful, unique plants that might even rival rare units.
With that in mind, Alex turned his attention to the plant before him. As the light faded, the second-tier Explosive Mushroom had transformed into a Treant Warrior, wielding a sharp wooden sword.
[Name: Treant Warrior]
[Race: Plant]
[Tier: 2 (0/25)]
[Strength: 22]
[Constitution: 22]
[Agility: 18]
[Spirit: 18]
[Skills: Explosive Spores, Cleave]
[Description: An advanced form of the Treant Guardian, excelling in close combat.]
The Treant Warrior stood taller and more imposing than its first-tier counterpart, its wooden thorn now replaced by a formidable wooden sword. Just standing there, it exuded an aura of power.
With this, Alex now had three second-tier units, giving him a sense of security when venturing outside. As long as he didn't run into a pack of Blaze Lions like before, he should be fine.
Having spent most of his time in his territory since arriving in this world, Alex knew little about the surrounding environment. This was the perfect opportunity to go hunting, scout for threats, and see if there were other lords nearby.
After preparing in his territory and crafting a simple bone dagger for self-defense, Alex set out with his three second-tier units and a Flower Sprite.
His territory was located at the border between a mountainous region and a dense forest. Towering trees loomed around him, shrouded in mist, making the area feel more primal than any place he'd ever seen. In the distance, the occasional roar of a beast echoed through the air.
Alex didn't dare let his guard down. As soon as he left his territory, he had the Thornvine Flowers and Treant Warrior surround him, while the Flower Sprite fluttered above, ready to provide support. He wasn't keen on venturing deep into the forest, so he stuck to the edge, gradually leaving his territory behind.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, as they passed a thicket, Alex noticed movement and halted the group. The plants, attuned to his thoughts, stopped immediately.
Alex crept to the edge of the trees and peered through the foliage. In the distance, he spotted five or six wolf-headed, ape-bodied monsters tearing into the corpse of another creature.
[Name: Blood Wolf Demon]
[Race: Beast]
[Tier: 2]
[Strength: 13]
[Constitution: 13]
[Agility: 24]
[Spirit: 16]
[Skill: Rend Claw]
[Description: A bloodthirsty monster with wolf ancestry, it attacks all non-allied creatures.]
Alex hadn't expected to encounter monsters so soon. From the information, it was clear these were speed-based creatures, their agility nearly maxed out for their tier, far surpassing his clumsy plants. But instead of retreating, Alex felt a thrill. He knew this world was full of danger, and relying solely on his units wasn't enough—he needed to hone his own combat skills to prepare for the future.
If he couldn't take on Tier 3 monsters head-on, Tier 2 should be manageable, right? Besides, while his plant units were slow, their attacks were fast and had long range, making them perfect for taking on these Blood Wolf Demons.
With that in mind, Alex stealthily approached with the two Thornvine Flowers, while the Treant Warrior circled around to the back, waiting for the right moment.
When all the Blood Wolf Demons lowered their heads to feed, Alex's gaze sharpened.
Now!
With a burst of speed, Alex shot forward like an arrow, while vines snaked across the ground, wrapping around the demons in the blink of an eye.
"Roar!"
One of the Blood Wolf Demons sensed the movement and roared, trying to alert its companions. But in the next instant, the Treant Warrior emerged from behind, its sword slicing through the air and decapitating the demon.
At the same time, a voice echoed in Alex's mind.
[Blood Wolf Demon (Tier 2) slain. 6 Mana gained.]
Alex ignored the notification, his bone dagger flashing as he stabbed the nearest demon. The creature tried to counterattack, but it didn't notice the vines wrapping around its legs.
"Thud!"
The dagger pierced its chest, and the demon fell lifeless to the ground.
The remaining three Blood Wolf Demons roared and lunged at Alex, seeking revenge. But they failed to notice the red spores that had already settled on their bodies, nor the vines retreating from around them.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A series of explosions sent the demons flying, and Alex, quick as lightning, rushed forward with the Treant Warrior, finishing them off one by one.
The entire battle lasted less than a minute!
"Not bad," Alex praised himself, a smile spreading across his face. Though his plants had done most of the work, he hadn't made any mistakes. It helped that he'd learned some combat techniques in the past, which had come in handy now.
He tallied up the rewards: 30 Mana from the battle and the elimination of a potential threat. But the biggest surprise was that the Flower Sprite had reached full experience after the fight. As a radiant light enveloped it, a beautiful floral crown formed on its head, and its attributes underwent a dramatic transformation.